Minister makes announcement on visit to Clare River enhancement projects at Grange Bridge
Monday 11th December 2017: Sean Kyne TD, Minister with responsibility for the Inland Fisheries Sector, today announced that 18 angling development projects in the Galway region have been awarded funding of some €275,000 by Inland Fisheries Ireland to improve angling access in the area.
The Minister made the announcement while visiting ongoing river enhancement projects on the Grange River, a major tributary of the Clare River that runs through counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. The works have been made possible by a unique collaboration between Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Office of Public Works (OPW), Cairde na Chláir and the Clydagh Foundation.
The Minister also had further good tidings for Cairde na Chláir, which is comprised of six local angling clubs, as the Group is one of the 18 new award recipients in Galway.
Minister Kyne welcomed the awarding of overall national funding, to the value of €2.2m, by Inland Fisheries Ireland to 115 angling development and conservation initiatives as part of its National Strategy for Angling Development, Salmon Conservation Fund and Midlands Fisheries Fund.
Minister Kyne said: “I congratulate all the successful applicants located across 24 counties and especially those in Co. Galway. The appetite among Galway angling community groups for investment in angling is reflected in that fact that Galway secured 12.5% of the funding awarded by IFI across the 24 applicant counties. This is also a clear sign of the importance attached to recreational angling in the Galway region and of the hard work dedication of these groups and the excellent support of IFI”.
“In addition, I recently provided additional funding for the forthcoming appointment, in early 2018, of ‘Fisheries Projects Animators’ for Inland Fisheries Ireland and that initiative will support the implementation of these projects in assisting community organisations in Galway and nationwide in realising these ambitious angling projects and conservation initiatives over the coming year,” he added.
The nationwide projects, which focus on improving Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resource, will begin delivery in 2018. In total, applications for over 140 projects were received bringing the overall value of projects applying for funding to above €2.9million.
The investment scheme is part of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s National Strategy for Angling Development. The Strategy aims to ensure that Ireland’s fish stocks and angling infrastructure are protected and enhanced with a view to ensuring a sustainable habitat and delivering the economic, health and recreational benefits they offer to communities across Ireland.
Inland Fisheries Ireland is aiming to grow the angling sector’s socio-economic contribution of €836 million per year by an additional €60 million annually through the Strategy. This will be achieved by driving angling participation among domestic and overseas visitors, which in turn is supported by improving access to fishing and developing angling infrastructure.
During his visit today, the Minister viewed improvement works which are being conducted over a 3.5km stretch from Grange Bridge to Cahergeal and include: gravel shoals at key points on the river bed, alternating and pared deflectors (which help oxegenate the water), placement of random boulders at relevant spots, bank protection, the digging of channel pools at certain sections, vegetation management along the river banks, and fencing where appropriate.
For more information on Inland Fisheries Ireland’s Funding Call 2017 and the projects receiving funding in this funding call, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie/funding.
The projects receiving funding under the 2017 Funding Call are:
1. Calla, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe – Disabillity carpark and access point and new permanent fishing stand – Kilconnell Community Development Association Ltd (€6,810)
2. Owenglin River, Couravoughill,Clifden. Co Galway – Improvement of Owenglin river access walkway – Clifden Trout Anglers Association (€19,530)
3. Tuam, Co Galway – Angling equipment to develop youth angling – Outdoor Ranger Ltd (€2,000)
4. Leenane public carpark, Co. Galway – Fisheries species, habitat and angling information signage – Leenane Development Association (€122)
5. Bundorragha River, Bundorragha, Whin Pool, Leenane, Co.Galway; Finlough Weed Control, Delphi Leenane, Co.Galway – Angling Access Delphi Fishery – Delphi Fishery Ltd (€1,614)
6. Clare River south bank from Claregalway village in the townland of Lakeview to the most easterly point of the townland of Lydacan – Clare River angler access from Claregalway to Gortatleva (Phase 1) – Inland Fisheries Ireland (€7,888)
7. Dawros River, Kylemore, Letterfrack, Connemara, Co. Galway – Kylemore Abbey Angling Access Programme – Kylemore Abbey & Gardens Ltd (€19,881)
8. Annaghdown, Co Galway; Ballindiff, Co Galway; Commercial boat club, Galway City; Collinamuuck Co Galway; Cornamona, Co Galway; Cong, Co Mayo; Oughterard, Co Galway; Moycullen, Co Galway; Headford, Co Galway; Kilbeg, Co Galway; Cross, Co Mayo – Fisheries enhancement and angling access project – Lough Corrib Angling Trout Federation (€3,517)
9. Abbert River, Monivea – Tiquin Area – Abbert River Spawning & Habitat Regeneration – Cairde Na Chlair (€56,685)
10. Possible filming locations are as follows: Spring time roach fishing – River Shannon, Portumna, Co. Galway; Bream fishing in Ireland – Timplehouse lake, Ballymote, Co. Sligo ; Hybrids fishing on the feeder – Garadice lake, Co. Leitrim ; Pole fishing in Ireland – River Inny or River Shannon;
Canal Fishing in Ireland, Grand Canal – Promotional Angling Videos – Cathal Hughes Angling (€1,875)
11. Baurisheen, Oughterard, Co Galway – Purchase of boats to improve angler access – Kevin Molloy Boat Hire (€4,375)
12. Kilroe (Cahermorris ) River, Kilroe, Annaghdown, Co Galway – Fencing & in-stream development – Annaghdown Angling Club (€3,026)
13. Bunownen River, Glencroff area and Leenane – West of Leenane Invasive Species Survey and Management Plan – Forum Connemara CLG (€1,837)
14. Carrick Shore, Clonbur, Co Galway – Angling boats to improve angler access – Hugh O’Donnell (€4,060)
15. River Bunowen, County Galway – Rock ramp on River Bunowen, Ahascragh – Inland Fisheries Ireland (€120,000)
16. Lough Corrib, Glann, Oughterard, Co Galway – Angling boats to improve angler access – Lough Corrib Boats (€7,500)
17. Glencorbet, Kylemore, Co Galway – Kylemore Riverbank and spawning bed restoration project – Inland Fisheries Ireland (€10,238)
18. Bealanabrack River, Kilmilken, Maam, County Galway – Riparian management, Bealanabrack – Inland Fisheries Ireland (€4,400)
Seán Kyne TD
Aire Stáit do Ghnóthaí Pobail, Acmhainní Nádúrtha agus Forbairt Digiteach
Minister of State for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development
TD for Gaillimh Thiar/Maigh Eo Theas – Galway West/Mayo South
Oifigí Dáilcheantair/Constituency Offices:
Bóthar an Spidéil, Maigh Cuilinn, Co. na Gaillimhe/Spiddal Road, Moycullen, Co. Galway. J91 TY84
Bohermore, Galway. H91 K8X8
Constituency Offices: 091 868 111
Mobile: 087 613 7372
Web: www.seankyne.ie
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeanKyneTD
Twitter: @SeanKyneTD
Seán Kyne TD is a Designated Public Official under the Regulation of Lobbying Act, 2015. Oifigeach Poiblí Shainithe faoi réir Acht um Brústocaireacht a Rialáil –see www.lobbying.ie for details.
